Alternative Dental Health versus Conventional Dentistry

Like every type of health care, there are contemporary western methods as well as natural or "alternative" ideas, and that pertains to dentistry as well. While many people ascribe solely to contemporary, conventional methods of dentistry, others are interested in exploring alternative dental ideas. Many of the alternative methods claim to be drawn on ancient concepts, or they embrace natural ideas such as using essential oils. Personally, I am extremely interested in the natural movement, but I also (obviously) see the merit of contemporary dental practices. In this blog, I am going to explore all of it. I am going to look at the most modern dental practices, and I am going to put them beside alternative ideas. I am going to compare, contrast and juxtapose all kinds of ideas. I hope you like what you see and that we both learn something along the way!

Dental Care and Your ADHD Child

Posted on:
22 June 2016

If you have a child with ADD or ADHD, there are no doubt many challenges in your everyday life that you have to face head on. A common challenge is convincing your ADD/ADHD child of the importance of taking care of his or her teeth. Indeed, a 2007 study found that children with ADHD were more likely to have poor oral health behaviours than neuro-typical children. Luckily, there are things you can do to instill good dental care habits in your child; read on for some tips that will make this minefield easier and more manageable for both you and your child.

One of the most common symptoms of attention deficit disorders is, not surprisingly, the inability to focus on the task in hand. Therefore, it's important to keep any distractions at a minimum. Avoid flashing toothbrushes, keep any toys out of sight, and keep talk to a minimum.

Plan carefully for a successful dental visit

A 2013 study showed that the best time for a patient with an attention deficit disorder to visit the dentist was in the morning about 30-60 minutes after taking medication, so try and make sure any dental visits are made at that time. Be sure to avoid any visits after school when your child's meds are wearing off and he or she is potentially full of energy after sitting down all day. A visit that is planned strategically should help cut down considerably on fidgeting, though it is advisable to bring a fidget toy with you to keep your child occupied and to help minimize any stress that he or she may be feeling.